Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1887-09-28
THE MAYOR OF JINGO.
BY WALLACE P. REED.

s'That is our mayor, Col. Hayes"
The speaker was Mr.. Jones, the ed
itor OF the Clarion, who was showing
me the points Of interest in the -four
ishing town OF lingo.
I had missed connection with the
western train, and was compelled to
wait several hours before resuming my
journey. IT was a relief to meet Jones
in that strange place. Although We
had never been very intimate, our
business relations, extending through
many years, had been very pleasant
and satisfactory.
So when Jones pointed out the may
or OF his town [ was prepared to say
something complimentary.
But my first careless glance at Col.
Hayes was followed by an intense
scrutiny.
The mayor was q man Of perhaps
so, but he looked older. He was tall
and thin, but his appearance indicat-
ed great activity and strength. His
rudy face and keen black eyes con-
trasted strangely with his white hair
and mustache. IL was easy to see
that he was q man Of energy, and his
square chin gave MIN determined,
bulldog look.
"Is it possible?" thoughtlessly ex-
claimed.
Jones must have read my tell-tale
face, for ne drew me into quiet back
street.
.'You know him ?' he said. "You
have seen him before?"
sit is the most remarkable thing IN
the world" said in my unguarded
excitement. "The last time | saw that
man was fifteen years ago In a mining
camp in California. He had been ar
rested for stealing q horse, and the
miners were going to lynch him. In
some way he made his escape, and as
all efforts TO trace him tailed, it was
believed that he met his death IN the
woods"
ssYou are sure that he is the man ?"
81 never forget q face" | replied,
<'your mayor is the horse-thief Of
Piedras Camps!"
Fifteen years ago." said Jones
meditatively. Eyes, that fits Jbecese
He was away four or five years and
his wife and baby had hard time OF
It. When he came back he had plenty
OF money. He went into business and
prospered, and now ne is the mayor of
lingo. It is all right. Yes, it is all
r-ig-h-t!"
did not like the way he gritted his
teeth. The genial smile had faded
away. and the man had g. sulien,
threatening look.
"You must not mention this" |
said. eve led a rough life In the
mines. and If Hayes has been q good
citizen since he came home, the best
way is to say nothing about it. Don't
dig up mans dead past"
son, don't be uneasy" my friend
answered with laugh. 81 am not
counting danger, and it would be dan
gerous to tackle Hayes. But you
have Just time to make your train.
You must run Tor 1t.
This knocked every thing else out OF
my head, aud with g nasty farewell [
made for the station. reaching it just
IN time to board the last car as it was
moving of.
Three days later the Herald con-
tanned q bloodcurdling account OF the
murder OF Editor Jones, at lingo.
The story filed column, but the
facts could have been summed up in
half dozen lines. Jones had been
stabbed through the heart while sit
ting IN his office late at night. Moth
ing Of value was missing, and there
was no cleW to the perpetrator OF the
deed.
As the paper slipped through my
nerveless fingers, the face OF the mayor
OF lingo seemed to loom up before
me.
The thought occurred to me that
Jones must have abused nay conf
derce. In some way he had let Hayes
know that he had unveiled his past
life, and the mayor had assasslnated
him.
AsI pondered over the affair this
theory grew into a conviction. | felt
q sense Of guilty responsibility. Why
had blabbed about the matter at
all? What business was it OF mine !?
In rattle-brained way | had told a
curious, sensation-loving, village news
paper man secret that was calculat-
ed to blast Hayes reputation, and
dr&g him and his family down into
the DEPTHS Of humiliation and dis
grace.
When the train rolled into lingo at
10 o'clock that night / was one OF the
passengers. [ had found it impossible
TO rest until the mystery was sifted TO
the bottom.
On nay way to the hotel my atten-
ton was drawn to a large and brill
iantiy lighted mansion.
"Mayor Hays is holding grand
reception tonight" remarked the
hack driver. cit is swell affair.""
In the morning | wondered why
had come to lingo. The talk | heard
on every side was not encouraging.
While the murder was regarded as a
shocking and brutal crime, it was
pain that the community did not re.
let losing Jones.